C’River anti-tax boss warns politicians on sponsoring tax touts

In line with the Cross River state policy on tax exemption for low-income earners, artisans, petty traders and a host of others, the chairman of the state anti-tax agency, Bishop Emmah Isong, has warned politicians to stop sponsoring tax touts.

Isong, who is also the national publicity secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), spoke in Calabar during the one-year anniversary/stakeholders’ meeting organised by the agency.

“I was attacked by hoodlums because of my insistence on implementing the anti-tax policy of the government. The truth is that those so-called tax agents are sponsored by some politicians who are benefitting from the illegality,” he said.

He said politicians who would give artisans, poor traders and low income earners a few cups of rice during elections while imposing heavy taxes on them through their agents on the streets were unfair to Cross River people.

“We have confronted thousands of illegal tax activities in the state. With very swift operations with joint security forces we have made not less than forty arrests. Because the judiciary is on strike, many of the suspects would have been arraigned.

“We hope this will serve as a strong deterrent to those who are still perpetuating this Shylock, oppressive and anti-Ayade activity,” he said.

While listing about 10 areas of the agency’s achievements within the past 12 months, Isong charged the oppressed and poor members of society to report any violator of the tax policy to the agency.

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